Divergence

A term used in surround sound mixing. When left, right, and center channels are available, a sound can be placed in front of the listener by mixing it entirely to the center channel, or by splitting it equally between the left and right channels. Compared to sending the track directly to the center channel, mixing the track to the left and right channels creates the impression of an extended sound source. Whether a narrow or wide source is desired depends on the situation, and many surround panners provide a so-called divergence control, which adjusts the left/center/right panning parameters to control the portion of front-placed sounds mixed to the center channel.